After dinner, Fiona didn't hesitate.
She moved quickly toward the forbidden part of the house: Manson's private floor.
She had barely taken a few steps onto it when Manson turned abruptly.
"You are not allowed on this floor. Go down. Now."
His voice cut through the air like a blade, jaw clenched tight enough to snap.
Fiona blinked, caught off guard.
"Huh… not allowed?"
"Yes. Now move."
The authority in his tone didn't waver.
For a second, she held his gaze then exhaled lightly.
"I'll go," she said, almost too easily. "I just came to talk about Dr. Justin. The fee is high… it's not something I can pay all at once. Will you accept installment payments?"
Silence.
The tension in his jaw loosened just a fraction.
Then, slowly, something else replaced it.
Amusement.
"You don't need to pay with cash," Manson said, voice dropping into something dangerously calm. "You can pay… in kind."
Fiona froze.
"Kind?" she echoed then her expression snapped. "I'm not sleeping with you!"
